Letter: Christmas is not a 'phony holiday'

Anita GieselmanSt. Augustine

Published Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Editor: I am writing in response to the Dec. 31 letter titled "Christmas is rooted in pagan holidays," I disagree with the statement in the letter that "Christmas is a made-up, phony holiday, invented by medieval Catholic popes.''

Christmas is a Christian celebration of Christ's birthday. Christians celebrate Jesus as the Light of the World, the Light of Life.

Early Christians decided to celebrate Christ's birth at the same time as the Festival of the Sun on Dec. 25. The festival celebrated the sun's light in darkness. The early Christians celebrated Jesus as the light in darkness, as we do today.

Jesus is our source of life, just like the sun is the source of life for things on earth.

"Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'' John, 8:12.